Silent Cheers: Commencement Access For All

The culmination of years of hard work and studying mounting to the awarding of the diploma. Your interpreter informs you your name has been called. As the walk across the stage closes in a handshake, it also closes the textbooks, the classroom doors, and the never-ending syllabi.  

As you pose for the standard stage photo you take in the crowd, the moment, and all of your success. Your gaze catches on your family and friends congregated and standing out, not from their voices, but from their hands. Raised and energetically shaking, they applaud your accomplishment in your first language: American Sign Language.  

It is your degree, your graduation, your moment to experience fully. This is access. 

While this moment looks and feels different for every student, it began with access to experience it.  

As commencement season quickly approaches, now is the perfect time to begin planning an accessible graduation for your Deaf and hard-of-hearing graduates and attendees. Consider the following tips and guidelines for planning your accessible graduation. 

Tips for Using an Interpreter at Commencement:  

• Provide clear means for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students and attendees to request communication access services for graduation.  

• Ensure your Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees have an unobstructed view of the interpreter. Any movement, obstacles, or traffic in this line of sight will lead to missed information.  

• Consider entrance/allowance requirements in advance to ensure interpreters have relevant communication access day of.  

• Request an interpreter for graduation practice as relevant.  

• Communicate contingency access planning in the case of weather impacts on the graduation ceremony.  

Tips for Using CART captioning at Commencement:  

• Provide clear means for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students and attendees to request access services for graduation.  

• Ensure your Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees have an unobstructed view of the captions. Any movement, obstacles, or traffic in this line of sight will lead to missed information. Will the captions be displayed for audience view or will the captioning link be available to watch on individual’s personal devices? 

• Consider technical set-up to ensure your CART writer has access to clear feed for accurate captioning.  

• Review planned presentations in advance so captions can be embedded into videos or media if needed. 

Planning Timeline: 

3 months in advance  

Request services with a schedule of events during the event including a breakdown of times. 

2 months in advance  

Provide DSU with a full list of presenters and their contact information. 

1 month in advance  

Provide DSU with the contact information for Deaf and hard-of-hearing event attendees, for schedules and communication modality preferences. 

2-4 weeks in advance  

Request all remaining services needed for event attendees. 

1-2 weeks in advance 

Submit any final presentation materials and day-of contact information and instructions.

Request Services Now!

Q&A

1. What does a Deaf-friendly graduation ceremony look like?
   It includes sign language interpreters, unobstructed views, and accessible captioning, allowing Deaf and hard-of-hearing graduates to fully experience their achievement.
2. How can Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees request access services for graduation?
   Institutions should provide clear channels for requesting communication access services, such as interpreters or captioning, well in advance of the ceremony.
3. Why is it important to ensure unobstructed views for interpreters and captions at graduations?
   Clear sightlines are crucial for Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees to receive accurate information, as any obstructions can lead to missed content.
4. What contingency plans should be considered for weather impacts on graduation ceremonies?
   Organizers should plan for alternative arrangements, such as indoor venues or virtual options, to ensure continued access in case of adverse weather conditions.
5. What is the recommended timeline for planning accessible graduation services?
   A suggested timeline includes:
   • 3 months in advance: Request services with a detailed schedule.
   • 2 months in advance: Provide a list of presenters and their contact information.
   • 1 month in advance: Share contact information for Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees and their communication preferences.
   • 2–4 weeks in advance: Request any remaining services needed.
   • 1–2 weeks in advance: Submit final presentation materials and day-of contact information.